I’m currently decluttering and reducing to get a handle on my home, and I’ve come to a conundrum of how many plates/bowls/cups/etc do I actually need? I have 2 young kids that we’d prefer not to have to run to the store at 8pm to buy more plates because someone ruined a plate, but very limited cupboard space (small 120-something year old house with a kitchen that was built in the 50s)
You need enough plates to last for two meals without doing dishes. More is obviously better, but if you have limited cabinet space, you’re kind of out of luck.
I will add that saucers can be used as plates for small snacks and sandwiches. There is no need to use a dinner plate for anything that can fit on a saucer.